The electronic edition is a part of the University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill digital library, Documenting the American South.

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English

Revision history:

2005-08-03, Sarah Ficke finished TEI/XML encoding.

Source(s):

Title of collection: Battle Family Papers (#3223-a), Southern
Historical Collection, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Title of document: Faculty Circular and Grade Report for J. D. Battle,
June 1, 1844

Author: [The Faculty]

Author: E. Mitchell Bursar

Description: 3 pages, 3 page images

Note:
Call number 3223-a (Southern Historical Collection, University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill)

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Faculty Circular and Grade Report for J. D. Battle, June 1, 1844

University of North Carolina (1793-1962). General FacultyMitchell, Elisha, 1793-1857

Page 1

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA,

Chapel Hill,June 1st, 1844.

SIR:

The Faculty feel themselves fully justified in stating, that at no previous
period in the history of the institution, have the opportunities both for
impacting and receiving instruction, been equal to what they are at present.
They believe that there is no department, into which manifest improvements
have not been introduced, and that in all that relates to the cultivation of
the intellect, the community have good reason to be satisfied with the
present condition of the University:

There are few parents who do not feel much more solicitous about the moral
culture, than the intellectual attainments of their children; and any
instructor may be regarded as eminently unfaithful in the discharge of his
duties, to whom the morals and manners of his pupil are not subjects of
paramount concern. To what extent our labors have been or may be successful
in these respects, it is impossible to determine. We can conscientiously
assure you, however, that there is no collegiate institution in the country,
to which our acquaintance extends, in which we believe greater pains are
taken by the Faculty, and certainly none where the Legislature
and the Trustees have united so cordially and efficiently to promote
these objects.

Our secluded situation is not without its disadvantages, but they are
believed to be more than counterbalanced by the safeguards which the Legislature and the Trustees have been thereby enabled to throw
around us. Extensive inquiry, long experience, and personal examination have
left no doubt, on the mind of any one of us, that our location was in all
respects happily chosen.

To maintain a tippling house within two miles of the University, or to sell within that distance wine, ardent spirits or
malt liquors, to be used by a student, without the consent of the Faculty,
is an indictable offence. Gaming, horse-racing, and other kindred practices,
within four miles, are prohibited in like manner. To give full sanction and
efficiency to the provisions of the criminal law, the Trustees have
ordained that any student who may be seen publicly intoxicated or in whose
room ardent spirits may be found, shall be forthwith suspended or dismissed,
as the circumstances of the case may seem to require. This ordinance has
been and will be faithfully carried into execution in every instancs of its
violation.

Extravagant habits ordinarily tend to the hindrance of all improvement,
intellectual and moral; and the deleterious effect is by no means confined
to the individual who is the subject of them. It is impossible to preserve
young men in all cases from indiscretions of this character. So carefully
have these evils been guarded against, however, that no parent can suffer
from them, who is faithful to the college, the community, his son, or
himself. The Rev.
ELISHA MITCHELL, D.D. is Bursar of the institution. It is his
duty to receive all sums of money that young men bring with them, to
"disburse the same in paying their board, tuition fees, college
dues, and other necessary expenses"—"to keep an
account of the money thus received and disbursed, and at the close of each
session to transmit a copy of such account to the parent or guardian of each
student."

The Revised Statute "concerning the University," (chap. 116,) makes it "unlawful for
any merchant, shop-keeper or other person at Chapel Hill, or within two
miles thereof, to sell to any student of the University, goods, wares or merchandise, without the consent of the
Faculty or some member thereof, in writing." Any contract for the
sale of such articles is "null and void, and no recovery can be had
thereon." The parent is consequently absolved from all obligation
to pay an account thus created, and it is very clear that a guardian cannot
discharge such a claim, without rendering himself

Page 2

liable to the estate of his ward for the amount. The ordinance of the
Trustees, on the subject, requires the Faculty to dismiss a
student, who may contract a debt without permission.

The Faculty have full confidence that these salutary provisions will meet
with your hearty concurrence. To enable you to act intelligently and
efficiently, we will transmit at the middle and end of each session, such a
statement of the progress of your son in learning, and of his moral
deportment as will enable you to form and communicate to him, your opinion
of his fidelity to himself and to you. We beg leave to assure you that no
influence can be brought to bear upon the young with so much promise of a
favorable result, as advice, expostulation, encouragement, or admonition
from the paternal roof.

In behalf of the Bursar and the merchants here, we have especially to
request, that you will notify the former forthwith, if you desire that your
son may be permitted to contract debts on credit, that notice and permission
may be given accordingly, and the obligations consequently incurred, be
rendered your own.

Since the commencement of the session (a period of 21 weeks) Mr. J. D. Battle has been absent from
Prayers — times, from Recitation — times, and from attendance on
Divine Worship — times; —of these absences — from Prayers —
from Recitation, and — from Divine Worship were unavoidable

His general deportment very good.

His relative gradation of scholarship in his class is considered very
respectable in the ancient Languages and Mathematics, good in English
Grammar and very good in History

Each student is required to attend prayers thirteen times, recitations
fifteen times, and Divine worship once each week. All absences, whether
unavoidable or not, are recorded. A very simple calculation, therefore, will
enable you to ascertain the precise proportion of duties performed and
omitted.

With respect to the necessary expenses of a student, THE FACULTY concur
entirely in the opinion expressed by the EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE in the Circular addressed to Parents and Guardians on the
15th April, 1837, that exclusive of the supplies of clothing ordinarily
obtained from home, more than two hundred and fifty dollars a year is not
necessary either to the comfort or reputation of any one.